Nordstrom has applied for liquor licenses for its cafes in the Washington Square and downtown Portland stores.

Both in-store cafes served beer and wine up until 2002, when the Oregon Liquor Control Commission said the retailer didn't renew its licenses.

Julee Kraus, a Nordies spokeswoman, said 80 percent of the retailer's locations offer beer and wine in their cafes and these are being added back during a remodel. The downtown store cafe is scheduled to reopen April 20, "so we hope we have approval by then," Kraus said.

But the two-wine lunches will have to wait a bit. Nordstrom applied in early February, but the licenses could take two to three months to approve, said Joy Evenson of the OLCC.